Fifth Fridays joint community event

June 27, 2011

The Portales Arts Council, Portales MainStreet and City of Portales Cultural Affairs have teamed up to bring city residents Fifth Fridays, a new Portales event which will happen on the last Friday of every five-week month

The first “Fifth Friday” is Sept. 30, with potential followups Dec. 30 and March 30, 2012.

Event Chair Dawn Wolf-Taylor said the event is about bringing more entertainment to Portales residents and getting people more involved in the community.

“I’m hoping people will look at it as a night when people are out and about,” Taylor said. “We’re doing it to help build an audience because it’s so hard to get the word out there about things going on and what your event and talent is about.”

Taylor said each of the 10 Portales businesses and non-profit organizations involved with the event will stay open late on fifth Fridays and will provide some form of art or cultural event, such as music, mimes, fashion shows, tours, art projects and more.

“I think it’s a great concept,” said Danny Woodward, owner of Woody’s Jewelry, one of the businesses involved in Fifth Fridays. “With MainStreet, that’s one of our goals is to create nightime activity. Our motto is, ‘Alive after five.’”

Taylor said the event is a good way for non-profit businesses and local residents with talent to showcase what they do. She said people of different venues in the area are welcome to contact the local businesses to get involved in Fifth Fridays.

“People may not know about particular events,” Taylor said. “But they will know to come out to Fifth Fridays, so there will be a built-in audience.”

Taylor said other businesses not involved will be welcome to stay open late while the Portales Town Square is alive with activity.

Suzi Webb, owner of the Main Place, said she got involved with Fifth Fridays because she feels a strong commitment to supporting and encouraging people, businesses and events within the Portales community.

“It is absolutely necessary to support activities that strive to build unity within our community,” Webb said. “Our business will plan specific incentives to coordinate with the various activities planned for each Friday event.”

The first Fifth Friday will take place from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sept. 30 at various Portales businesses in the area of the Portales Town Square.

“It’s whatever people want it to be,” Taylor said. “I won’t be deciding what businesses do for Fifth Fridays. They will. A lot of these businesses are a big fan of the arts and culture and community. It’s something fun to do.”